By Fernando Muñoz
I’m excited to invite you to the opening of my new exhibition, Postcards of Hope, happening on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at La Peña Gallery in Austin, TX (227 Congress Avenue).

This show marks a special return for me. After spending the last four years living and working abroad, I’m coming back to Austin with a new body of work—a collection of visual "postcards," each paired with a short poem or note. These pieces are like small letters of hope, created during a time when I, like many of us, have been searching for light, connection, and resilience.

Postcards of Hope is my way of reflecting on the quiet beauty that exists in fleeting moments and simple messages. Through the pairing of images and words, I hope to offer viewers a sense of warmth and reflection—something gentle to carry with them.

As a self-taught artist originally from Chile, I began my creative journey in 2013 with a desire to make meaningful work. Over the years, I’ve explored drawing, printmaking, ceramics, photography, and poetry, drawing inspiration from my time spent in Chile, Oregon, Texas, and Lisbon. Each place has left a mark on me, and those experiences echo through the pieces in this show.
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I’d love for you to join me on May 3 to see the work, share a conversation, and reconnect. The opening reception will be a casual and welcoming evening—come as you are.

About La Peña
This exhibition wouldn’t be possible without the support of La Peña, a cultural space dedicated to promoting the arts and community. La Peña is funded in part by the City of Austin through the Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office/Cultural Arts Division, and by grants from the Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation, the Texas Commission on the Arts, CoYoTe Phoenix, and the National Endowment for the Arts. These organizations believe, as I do, that investing in the arts is an investment in Austin’s future.
For more info about the venue, check out www.lapena-austin.org

Hope to see you there,
Fernando

Lisbon is slowly waking up from its winter slumber. After months of cold, rainy days and long, quiet nights, the city is stretching, breathing in the fresh spring air, and so am I. There’s a renewed energy in the streets, in the people, and most importantly, in my studio at LX Factory.

The past few months have been a journey—an evolving exploration of art, connection, and inspiration. My studio has been a gathering place for incredible souls from all corners of the world—Australia, Sweden, Montreal, Germany, Spain. Strangers who became friends, fellow creators, and supporters of my work. Each conversation, each shared moment, has shaped the way I see my own art. I feel immensely grateful knowing that some of my pieces have traveled thousands of miles, finding new homes in distant places. It’s a surreal feeling to imagine a painting I created here in Lisbon now living in another country, another reality.

Title: The Mask and the Temple
Medium: Mixed Media on Paper (Pencil, Ink, Oil Pastels, Watercolor)
Dimensions: 28 x 36 cm (11 x 14 in)
Year: 2024
The Mask and the Temple features a central figure wearing a plain white mask, standing against a surreal landscape. Behind the figure, structures resembling ancient temples and pyramids rise, blending into the background as if part of a distant, dreamlike world. Above, three inverted pyramids hang suspended from dark, swirling clouds, while below, a narrow bridge arches across a reflective body of water.
The composition combines varied textures and colors from pencil, ink, oil pastels, and watercolor, adding depth and atmosphere. The original piece is on display in Lisbon, with a Giclée print exhibited in Austin, Texas.

Download the pdf, print and color it! 

Acrylic on canvas, 50cms x 50cms - 2022

Aquí un pequeño obsequio: "Apruebo Suculentas" - PDF descargable en alta resolución para que lo impriman para uso personal, o para regalar a sus amigos y familiares! 
Por un Chile que mire al futuro!

It has been a wonderful first year in Portugal! One of my main concerns moving was about finding a studio to work and present my work, luckily I was able to find a spot at the LXFactory and share a studio with the very talented Samantha Wilson (check her work)
Portugal it's a beautiful country, everyday you discover something new or meet somebody from a different country. 

Our studio Is located at LXFactory - Rua Rodrigues de Faria 103 - Bldg 1 - Loja 1.14

​Visit soon!

I had the privilege of curating this exhibition for La Peña Gallery. We invited artists to share their work, and also their experience through a series of video interviews conducted by Sandra Pomeleo-Fowler.

Not only has a global pandemic hit our lives, but there has also been an awakening after the killing of George Floyd and other members of the Black and Latinx communities. People have started to protest police brutality, demand restorations and fight for equity and the end of systemic racism in the United States. 

In light of these events, we are always curious about how artists keep creating, how the current events have affected their practice, and what message and dreams they have for the future. 

This exhibition is divided into 3 parts: one is the online exhibition here at La Peña’s website; the second part is an in-person exhibition at La Peña Gallery on Congress Avenue (you can visit by appointment); and the third part is a series of video interviews that will be published for the duration of the exhibit.
We hope this exhibition is the foundation of an online registry of local established and emerging artists.

I would like to express my gratitude to La Peña for their efforts on keeping the community together and always fighting for the social issues. A big thanks Sandra Pomeleo-Fowler for conducting a series of wonderful interviews with the artists, we will be sharing those soon. 

Fernando Muñoz
Curator, La Peña